Outside the Lines

by Anna Zabo

  “Magic words.”

  I untangled myself from Lydia and made us bowls of liquored-up ice cream while she took the movies into the living room. When I walked in, the menu screen for Ladyhawke was already cycling.

  “You’re too good for us,” she murmured, and took a bowl from me.

  “Other way around. But thank you.”

  Lydia’s sadness fell away for a moment. “You really don’t know yourself, Ian.”

  I met her gaze. “Do any of us?”

  A small snort. “Million-dollar question.” She picked up the remote and started the movie.

  Truth is, I did know myself. Maybe not perfectly, but enough to understand that what I had was far more than I deserved, especially after the blunder I’d made. But hell, if I was going to let it go. The Derrys were stuck with me, for as long as they wanted me.

  I leaned back, took a spoonful of spiked ice cream, and watched a painfully young Matthew Broderick dig his way out of a prison.

  Two and a half hours later, the movie was over, Lydia was curled up with her head in my lap, and we were both a little bit buzzed. She gripped my knee and let out a sigh. “I love that film.”

  “Me too.” Despite the out-of-place soundtrack, the story and humor and romance always brought me back. The I love yous at the end, the way they all supported and loved— “Oh my God, they’re a thruple!”

  Lydia laughed and squeezed my knee. “Kinda, huh?”

  I’d never seen that before. It was purely subtext, but clearly Philippe loved both Navarre and Isabeau—and they loved him. “Wow.”

  Lydia rolled over and looked up at me. “Ian, can I ask you something?”

  “You just did.”

  She grabbed a decorative pillow and bopped me in the head. “I’m trying to have a real conversation here!”

  I laughed, took the pillow away, and tossed it over by the arm of the couch. “Sorry. Slightly drunk.”

  “Yeah, well, whose fault is that?”

  Mine. Totally. My second helping of ice cream had been in a glass and more booze than cream. “What did you want to ask?”

  She fell into seriousness. “Is it okay if I’m kinda a little in love with you?”

  Her words zipped through me. The back of my skull tingled and my pulse hitched up a notch. “Um. Yes?”

  “Oh good.” She closed her eyes and whispered, “Because I’m kinda a little in love with you.”

  My head spun, and I didn’t think it was from the liqueurs. “I mean, I’m gay.” I stared down and she opened her eyes. “But I completely understand why Simon loves you like he does. Because I probably would too, if I were straight or bi or something. Hell, I—” Words fell away.

  Lydia poked my leg. “You . . .?”

  Wasn’t going to get away with not saying anything. “I’m kinda in love with you too.” I waved at her laying on my legs. “I mean, this is quite a friendship.”

  “But boobs and pussy don’t do it for you.”

  I shrugged and chuckled. “I’ve always been more of a dick and ass man.”

  She shrugged too, but it came out weird since she was lying down and only made me laugh. That gave her the giggles, and we snickered and snorted like two eight-year-olds with a pile of fart jokes. When we both wound down, she relaxed against my legs. “You know what I wanna watch next?”

  “What?”

  “Fifth Element. Don’t tell Simon, but I fucking love that movie.”

  God, my cheeks would break from smiling so much. “Your secret is safe with me.”

  Maybe it was because I couldn’t stop worrying about Lydia, but Saturday night crept along with hardly any customers and too many minutes. I couldn’t paint miniatures or models since I was the only one manning the shop, but even my normal go-to time movers like organizing back issues or bagging and boxing comics didn’t help at all. I still ended up perched on a stool behind the counter trying not to seem too bored or too stressed.

  Given a few looks of pity I got when the smattering of customers did check out, I’d obviously failed at one or the other. Eventually, it was close enough to closing time that I began the walk-through of the store. Mostly, it was to straighten merchandise and put issues and books that had wandered around back to where they belonged.

  Of course, right when I finished tidying up the model section, not five minutes before closing, the shop door opened and closed and the murmurs of two men floated over the shelves.

  Really? Why did people have to come in at the Goddamned last second to buy shit? I schooled my expression and headed out to greet them. I might hate last-minute customers, but I knew better than to let them know that. They were customers, after all.

  But when I spied them, I stopped and stared. For the second time in several weeks, Wolf’s Landing had come to visit my shop—this time in the form of Hunter Easton and Kevyan Montanari.

  It was one thing to meet Hunter on the lot, in Wolf’s Landing—quite another to have him and his co-writer and husband looking in my shop at the new comic releases.

  “Why didn’t I know this shop was here?” Kevyan said. “This is way closer than that place in Port Angeles.”

  Hunter snorted. “Because it’s too damn close to Howling Moon and you never walk past there if you can help it?”

  A soft chuckle. “There is that.”

  At least one other person in the world didn’t like Howling Moon. I bit back a smile. “Hi, can I help you?”

  They both turned and I had to fight to keep the professional smile on my face. Hunter was wearing one of the T-shirts sporting Lydia’s designs.

  Toss-up if I managed to hide my dismay. Hunter’s smile didn’t falter, but Kevyan’s did—and Hunter clearly noticed that. He gestured at me. “This is Simon,” he said. “The shop owner I was telling you about.”

  Focusing on Kevyan was easier than staring at Hunter, so I stepped forward and stuck out my hand. “Simon Derry.”

  His handshake was firm and short. “I’m Kevin.” He glanced around the shop and there was a hint of surprise in his voice. “This is a nice place!”

  Kevin. I mentally slotted that in where Kevyan had been. “Thanks! We are a little closer than the shops in Port Angeles. We might not carry everything, but if there’s a title you want, we can order it.”

  He nodded.

  “Except Wolf’s Landing merchandise,” Hunter said.

  I flinched and saw the reaction in both men. My gaze drifted to Hunter’s T-shirt. “It’s a licensing issue.” My words sounded rough. I swallowed.

  “Sore subject?” That from Kevin.

  “It’s complicated.” I rubbed my neck and tried to get my heart rate back under control.

  A glance passed between the two of them, and I was reminded of both Lydia and Ian, and man, I wanted to be home with them even if the men standing before me were the authors of my favorite books. I shook the funk off. “I’m sure you didn’t come to hear about my problems.” This time, I must have managed a half-decent smile, since they both mirrored it.

  Hunter cleared his throat. “I dragged Kevin with me so we could sign any books you had in stock.”

  “And because I didn’t want to drive thirty miles to get comics.” Kevin gave a small shrug, but his grin deepened. “His name’s on more books than mine. Figured I could browse, too.”

  “Wow, um.” How did signing stock work? “I’ve never had an author come in before, let alone two. Do you need anything?”

  They both had a painfully amused look, and my grumpiness gave way to embarrassment.

  “Just point us to the books. We have pens and everything.” A laugh from Hunter.

  I gestured for them to follow, and took them to our collection of Wolf’s Landing books and graphic novels. “It’s not that many.”

  “You have the whole series.” Kevin reached for one of the books he’d co-authored. “It’s more than some bookstores keep in stock.”

  That was true. The business person in me understood why bookstores did that, but the reader in
me hated when the entire series wasn’t available. “Nice benefit to being the owner is that I get to choose what’s on the shelves.”

  “Believe me, we’re grateful for that.” No laughter from Hunter now, only appreciation.

  I hovered like a mother hen for a moment, then checked my watch. “I should finish closing.”

  Kevin looked up. “I’m going to want to buy some comics.”

  After my experience with Carter Samuels, I suspected neither of these men would take me giving them comics. “That’s fine. Mainly, I need to lock the front door.”

  I managed to slip away, lock up, and finish tidying while they autographed books. Tomorrow, I’d make a little card stating that the books were signed or something. Though, I bet the stock over at Howling Moon was too. I swallowed the lump in my throat. Before the T-shirts, I hadn’t minded them as a neighbor, Marlina’s possessiveness notwithstanding. But now? God, it was hard seeing Lydia’s work not being recognized.

  Hunter came over to the counter while Kevin browsed. “Thanks for staying open for us.”

  That got a chuckle out of me. “Like I’d throw you guys out of my shop.”

  He waved my words away. “We’re people, Simon, and I have a feeling you weren’t exactly happy to see us.”

  “It’s not . . . I didn’t . . .” I sighed and scrubbed my face. “Long week, that’s all.”

  He nodded noncommittally.

  My brain itched as I took in that damn T-shirt. Maybe . . . maybe he knew how merchandising worked. He owned the damn characters after all. “Hey . . . so how do they hire artists for T-shirts anyway?” I waved at my wife’s design on his chest. “Or the comic books? Stuff like that.”

  He blew out a breath. “I’m out of the loop on the whole process.” He stepped back and pulled his T-shirt out flat. “Take this, for instance. I have no idea how they got StarVixen to agree to let them use her art. I had to beg and plead and practically promise my nonexistent first child to get her to sell me a print at cost. And here she is on a T-shirt.”

  Oh God. I stared at Hunter. Oh fuck. He’d bought that print? The ground swam below my feet and I gripped the counter.

  “Are you all right?”

  Nope. Not in the least. “StarVixen didn’t license the art.” I barely heard my own voice over the rush of blood in my head.

  Hunter stared at me.

  “For the T-shirts. She didn’t license it. Wasn’t asked. Someone stole the art off Fandom Landing.”

  “What the fuck?” Kevin joined us at the counter, a handful of comics in his hands. “You— Please tell me you’re fucking joking.”

  I shook my head, my throat tight and dry.

  Hunter’s expression turned neutral. “How are you sure the art was stolen?”

  I barked a bitter laugh. “Because it’s my wife’s art. Wanna know why I’m a wreck tonight?” I gestured at Hunter’s T-shirt.

  Hunter’s face lost a little color. “Your wife is StarVixen? Can you prove this?”

  Part of me wanted to choke Hunter, but the rational side grappled for control and won. I swallowed a few breaths and nodded. Of course he’d need proof. “Yeah. I can. Her studio is in the back.”

  They followed me past the counter and into the back rooms, all the way to Lydia’s computer. I nudged it awake, used her password to log in, and clicked through the folders until I got to her Wolf’s Landing fan art. Then, one by one, I started opening files—the original Photoshop ones with all the layers and shit. After about the seventh file, Kevin spoke.

  “You can stop. We believe you.”

  I turned. Both men were ashen. Kevin seemed worried. Hunter looked like he wanted to rip someone’s head off. A spark of hope bloomed in me. Lydia might murder me, but I had a feeling Hunter could fix this.

  Kevin stared at the art. “Why didn’t she say anything? Like, when people on the forum were congratulating her and all that.”

  I winced. “She doesn’t want anyone to know who she is. In real life.”

  Hunter’s furious expression softened. “Because she lives here, right?”

  “Yeah.” I turned back to the computer and started closing files, mostly so I didn’t have to see the emotions I’d been dealing with for over a week. Relief flooded through me. Lydia might kill me, but at least someone else knew what had happened. “I mean, she’s drawn Carter and Levi—naked.”

  “So? I’ve written them fucking,” Kevin said. “And I live here now.”

  My hand froze on the mouse.

  “To be fair,” Hunter said, “visual arts are a bit different than written ones when it comes to sex.”

  “Unless you’re talking porn.” Kevin’s voice was just as conversational.

  I finished closing out everything, logged out, and faced the two men. “I doubt there’s a Wolf’s Landing porno.”

  “There is.” They spoke in unison.

  Fuck me. Part of me was horrified. The other part itched to find the damn thing.

  Hunter laughed, probably because I was no good at poker faces. “Hey, do you think I could talk to your wife? Art theft is pretty damn serious, and this—” He touched the T-shirt he had on and his fury returned. “This is beyond the pale.”

  “How soon do you want to talk to her? I’m heading home after—” I waved at the front of the store.

  “Given the way you look tonight? The sooner the better, I bet.”

  That was about the size of it. “Let me finish locking up.” I eyed his T-shirt. “Want something else to wear?” I couldn’t imagine what Lydia would think if Hunter Easton walked in wearing her stolen design.

  Hunter grimaced. “Please.”

  I gave Hunter one of the plain black T-shirts I kept handy in the back room for those occasions when I either dripped blobs of paint on myself or ended up wearing my lunch. I also rang up Kevin’s comics—and as I’d suspected, trying to gift them to him didn’t pass muster at all.

  “Take my debit card like I’m a normal human being,” Kevin said.

  So I did—then led those normal human beings who were the heart and soul of Wolf’s Landing out the back so they could follow me home.

  We got to my house and I parked in the drive, while they pulled behind Ian’s Mini Cooper at the curb. Despite the fading twilight, Ian’s car was still brilliantly yellow.

  “Nice!” Kevin said. “Yours?”

  “Nah, it’s my boyfriend’s.” The truth slipped out before my brain caught up to remind me that was dumb to say. My stomach tumbled. “Um. I mean . . .” I stopped on the walkway and stuffed my hands in my pocket. “Well . . .”

  Hunter rolled his eyes. “You’re poly?”

  “Yeah.” I stared at him. “I am. We are.” Holy shit. Someone’s first instinct was polyamory and not that I was a stinking cheating bisexual? My head spun around again.

  “Good.” He pointed at the door. “Go.”

  Kevin smirked.

  God, Lydia was going to murderlate me. Couldn’t keep my mouth shut about anything anymore. I marched up to my house, Hunter and Kevin in tow, and unlocked the door. I found Lydia resting her head in Ian’s lap in the living room and for a moment, I forgot who was at my back. “You’re watching The Fifth Element? After all the grief I got for loving the movie?” Seriously? My lovers, conspiring together!

  “It’s a bad-movie-and-spiked-ice-cream night, sweetheart.” Ian turned. “And this is—” His entire expression changed from snarky to horrified in an instant. “Oh shit!”

  Lydia’s eyes were huge as she stared beyond me. She levered herself up to sitting and Ian leapt for the remote and paused the movie.

  “They need to meet Carter and Levi,” Kevin murmured.

  “This is my wife, Lydia. I think you’ve met Ian, Hunter.” I took a breath and stared into Lydia’s horrified gaze. “Honey, Hunter and Kevin—”

  “Kevyan.” Lydia spoke through the fingers covering her mouth.

  “Kevin,” Kevin said.

  “—stopped by the store tonight to sign books.”r />
  “And I was wearing one of your T-shirts.” Hunter brushed past me into the living room.

  “I told him everything.” I felt like absolute shit when Lydia’s eyes got watery. Way to go Simon. “I’m sorry, but I couldn’t not—and besides, he’s the guy who bought your Carter and Levi print.”

  If I’d thought Lydia’s eyes had been huge before, I’d been wrong. “You’re Wolf Hunter?” Lydia let out a breath, grabbed one of the throw pillows and clutched it to her chest. “You shit! That’s not fair! You’re Hunter Easton!”

  Wow. At least she hadn’t lobbed the pillow at Hunter. “Ian, how much Chambord did you pour over my wife’s ice cream?”

  “A lot.” Ian ran a hand through his hair. “Hi.” He looked sheepish and happy and embarrassed, and I fucking loved every inch of him.

  Hunter chuckled. “I met Kevin on Fandom Landing.” He focused on Lydia. “Can we sit and talk? Because I think I can help you, being the rights owner of all my characters and shit.”

  “I can too,” Kevin said, “because I bet every single worry you have about people knowing who you are, I’ve had first.”

  Lydia sat back against the cushions. “Well, fuck. This night can’t get any weirder, so yeah.” She waved at the couch. “Have a seat.”

  Ian rose. “Want some ice cream? It’s vanilla, but we’ve got chocolate chips and liquor.”

  In the end, both Hunter and Kevin said yes to ice cream with chocolate chips, but hold the booze. I followed Ian into the kitchen to give Lydia, Hunter, and Kevin time to talk in private.

  Ian leaned against the counter. “So that’s something.” He waved at the door to the living room.

  “Right?” I closed in on Ian and stole a kiss that tasted of raspberry and chocolate. He turned it into something much longer and sexier. By the time he relented, I was breathless and the room was spinning. Maybe not the most apropos time to sex it up with my boyfriend, but he was one of the reasons Hunter and Kevin were sitting on my couch.

  “I’d apologize for bringing all this Wolf’s Landing chaos into your life, but I think—” Ian glanced over my shoulder at the door to the living room. “I think it’s gonna work out.”